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Things continue to get worse for the Oregon State Beavers. The football program has been hit with a variety of different setbacks that could spell bad news for the 2024 season.
It’s now being reported that starting QB DJ Uiagalelei will enter the transfer portal. The news comes after OSU head coach Jonathan Smith bailed for Michigan State.
The Beavers have been through the wringer over the last six months.
Oregon State was abandoned by the rest of the PAC 12 as it watched 10 affiliate members leave in conference realignment. USC and UCLA got the ball rolling in the 2022 offseason with bombshell news of a departure to the Big Ten.
Washington and Oregon followed suit this year, while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah announced plans to join the Big XII. The icing on the cake was Cal and Stanford moving their affiliation cross country with intent to become ACC members next season.
The PAC 12’s crumble was directly tied to television money as the league failed to land a major media rights contract. Unfortunately, Oregon State was one of two programs left behind in the Conference of Champions, with the other being Washington State.
Now, those two teams will be quasi-Mountain West affiliates while still holding that PAC 12 title.
Oregon State, Washington State & the Mountain West are finalizing their 2024 football scheduling agreement, sources tell @YahooSports.
MWC teams will play 7 league games + 1 vs. OSU or WSU (not counted in standings). OSU/WSU to pay MWC ~$14M fee – https://t.co/pzGK0WEmfp
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 28, 2023
Not only will the Beavers be at a disadvantage from an annual revenue aspect, but there will be immediate recruiting and coaching staff ramifications.
We’ve already seen richer programs go after those on the OSU roster, most notably Michigan State’s prying head coach Jonathan Smith away with a $2.5M pay bump.
Smith had led the Beavers to an 18-7 record over the last two seasons after taking over a team that went 1-11 the year before his was hired.
Now, it seems more attrition is on the way.
DJ Uiagalelei reportedly enters the transfer portal.
Starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is reportedly entering the portal. A transfer from Clemson, the gunslinger threw for a career-high 2,638 yards this season.
It appears he’s going to be one and done with the Beavers.
🚨BREAKING: Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, @PeteNakos_ reports.https://t.co/5XDLGCb49t pic.twitter.com/mpodurOXuN
— On3 (@On3sports) November 30, 2023
The fact that he’s already transferred once won’t matter given the head coaching change.
Of course, there is an option that he could return. Oregon State has already hired a new head coach, staying in house by elevating defensive coordinator Trent Bray.
But should Uiagalelei ultimately leave, it could leave the QB room depleted.
The 2023 Oregon State roster shows four quarterbacks outside of Uiagalelei, with three finishing up either their freshman or redshirt freshman seasons.
Of the quartet, only two have seen game action, combining to throw 230 attempts. For reference, Uiagalelei threw 315 passes in his lone season with the program.
Ben Gulbranson boasts the most experience, having started in the 2022 campaign. He threw just one six-yard completion this past year. Former four-star passer Aiden Chiles is also in the mix, completing 24-of-35 passes last season.
The 2024 recruiting class does not see a QB committed to the program.
Things continue to go from bad to worse for Oregon State as vultures pick apart the roster. With a Power Five future in serious limbo, there might not be a light at the end of the tunnel.